The Difference Between Stockings and Pantyhose
Long legs and lingerie have had a long history with one another. Women generally wear stockings or pantyhose under dresses, skirts and/or dress pants with various degrees of thickness and colors to suit style and weather needs. On the outside, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two. Underneath, American stockings and pantyhose have plenty of differences. We’ll cover both here.
Both stockings and pantyhose are classified as hose or hosiery. The original purpose was to protect the legs while they were exposed to the elements while still remaining in style. This included styles for men back in the day. Things have have changed nowadays. Today, stockings and pantyhose are primarily worn by women during special dressy occasions or in the workplace.
Stockings and Pantyhose History
Both stockings and pantyhose can be considered to be a type hosiery. Hosiery are leg garments that are are made with a various thickness (denier), color, and the ability to be see through (opacity). These type of garments are meant to cling to the leg to to maximize leg movement and flexibility by being manufactured with stretchy fabrics and/or meshes.
The origins of Hosiery can stem all the way back to Greeks and the Romans. Some similar looking leg garments have also been linked to the ancient Egyptians. The most popular form of hosiery was from the Renaissance-era. This is where men and women would wear hosiery, especially tights, as they would perform in ballets and such.
Today, most hosiery is worn by women. Stockings and Pantyhose are probably the most commonly used hosiery used by women when dressing up in a more formal fashion. Even though stockings and pantyhose almost look the same, can feel the same, and perform similar functions, there are a number of differences to both. They are both made primarily with a very thin stretchy fabric that shows off the legs while giving the legs a sense of protection from weather or other elements. Lets dive into each and go over what makes each unique in their own way.
What are Stockings?
Real women wear stockings. It’s more traditional and very sexy
A man of culture
Stockings are the older form of both types of hosiery. They go back hundreds of years and really only became the more modern nylon stockings we know and love in the 1940s.
Lets break down what stockings really are. They are various nylon based hosiery that are designed to fit on each leg separately that go all the mid-thigh. Many have various designs and some are held up by garter belts and some have elasticity that hold up the stocking without a garter belt.
What are Pantyhose?
Pantyhose are fairly a new type of hosiery compared to it’s older ‘sister’, stockings. Pantyhose were introduced in the end of the 1950s sporting a one-piece version of stockings where you are able to wear them above the waist.
As mentioned, pantyhose are similar to stockings but you are able to wear them in one piece which removes the need to use garter belts or the use of elastic bands to hold them up. The introduction of pantyhose reduced the need for stockings tremendously.
Wearing and using pantyhose was easier and more widely accepted due to this fact. The overall sex appeal of this type of hosiery dropped though because stockings show a bit more flesh than pantyhose.
What kind of hosiery do men prefer – Stockings or Pantyhose?
As some reports may indicate, men generally prefer stockings over pantyhose. Why? Men are visually stimulated and the way stockings present themselves would would help add sexual tension. There are a few things about them that make them more sexually attractive aesthetically versus the way pantyhose looks when clothing is removed.
For one, they rise to the mid thigh just shy of the woman’s sex. This would leave some thigh exposed once the skirt or dress was removed adding to the sexy teasing aspect that would be at play. The sexual teasing only gets heighten if a garter or suspender belt is in the picture as well. Many times garter or suspender belts are can be seen as an imprint from outside the dress or skirt. This would heighten sexual curiosity tenfold.
Full Fashioned Stockings are art
When Full Fashioned lingerie was in full swing during the 1950s and 1960s, everything was top-notch quality. This lingerie was made to be functional and yet sexy at the same time. The women wore pencil skirts and blouses to just about every job they had so everything had to last all day. Quality was everything.
There is a specific look of FF Stockings that scream quality. These are hand sewn hosiery with very little stretch due to the quality of the fabric. As you can see in the picture, they were made to last with each part of manufacturing from the reinforced heel, the seam, and lastly to the keyhole with the welt at the top.
Girls wear pantyhose. Women wear Full Fashioned Stockings
Knowing about the quality of full fashioned lingerie adds to the sexiness because you know any women wearing fully fashioned lingerie is serious and mean business. She is not a fake woman. This is a woman who demands your attention and should be admired and adored.
Men know that this type of lingerie is not easy to put on and maintain. This means that the woman who took the time to look this good for any normal occasion is a high quality woman. This is a woman who takes pride in her appearance and she sets herself apart from all the other women – especially by today’s fashion standards.
Conclusion
Women wear both for any given reason and purpose. Whether you prefer stockings or pantyhose both fulfill any undergarment needs. Now if you are trying to entice that certain someone to help you take your undergarments off, you might want to go down the stockings road.
To make up you mind, make sure to check out our selections for everything Lingerie and a pair of sexy shoes to go along with it. Remember, it’s the little things in life that matter.
